October 1, 2010
Len Evans Centre Officially Opened at ACC
BRANDON—Premier Greg Selinger joined local dignitaries, staff and students of Assiniboine Community College (ACC) here today for the official opening of the $46-million Len Evans Centre for Trades and Technology.
"Our government supports projects such as this high-tech, world-class training facility to help build capacity to meet the growing need for more skilled workers in high-demand sectors in today’s economy,” Selinger said. “We are also providing more opportunities for young Manitobans wanting to enter skilled trades and apprenticeship fields that offer stable, high-paying jobs in both the public and private sectors.”
Named in honour of the long-time member of the legislative assembly, the Len Evans Centre features the redeveloped Pine Ridge building and two newly constructed shop buildings on the site of the former Brandon Mental Health Centre. The new trades facility has been designed to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold building standard, exceeding the province’s Green Building Policy within the original project budget. The facility will accommodate more than 1,400 students including more than 700 new apprenticeship spaces.
“The official opening of the Len Evans Centre for Trades and Technology is a wonderful day for our staff and students, for community members and for the province. This historic space will be an asset to the community and will be shared with the community,” said Mark Frison, president of Assiniboine Community College. “We are proud that our students will be trained in a state-of-the-art facility and will be using some of the most technologically advanced equipment available.”
“Two years ago when this construction project got underway, there was a feeling of optimism for the future growth of Assiniboine Community College in Brandon and the areas it serves,” Selinger said. “The official opening of this tremendous facility today shows how effectively we have worked in partnership to get the job done, opening more doors for Westman residents to study and learn their professions closer to home.”
All of ACC’s existing trade certificate and diploma programs have moved to the new site, along with apprenticeship offerings.
Selinger said ACC is also working with the provincial and federal governments, Red River College and the University College of the North to develop an innovative new process to deliver apprenticeship training in modules because some foreign-trained workers find they require upgrading or a set of specific skills before they can become certified journeypersons in Manitoba. The modules are designed to make it possible for people to bridge training gaps and help them become certified more quickly and are part of a broader initiative to support Manitoba’s post-secondary institutions in improving their programming and services for newcomers, said Selinger.
“The Len Evans Centre for Trades and Technology will significantly boost the number of apprentices that can be trained in Manitoba and increase the number of employees available to fill highly skilled technical jobs,” he said. “This is a win-win situation for individuals, businesses and the provincial economy.”
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